Does Your BMW Take Long To Start When Cold? 4 Possible Reasons Explained

BMW getting a late start on a chilly morning? We know how frustrating it can be…. especially if you are getting late for work.

Sometimes it's the starter motor... more often than not, though, it's the battery that causes starting trouble in vehicles. In any case, for a seamless driving experience, you need to find out what exactly went wrong with your BMW and why it is taking so long to start on a cold morning… The information given in this blog post will make the diagnosis easier. Therefore it is important that you read this blog post in its entirety.

Reasons Your BMW May Not Start On Cold Morning

Cold weather can wreak havoc on your vehicle; specifically on its battery and lubrication system. As the temperature drops, the battery will lose its charge storage capacity and may even drain overnight. Plus, lubricants used in the vehicle will thicken and metal parts will contract; causing all sorts of drivability problems including starting trouble.

The discussion below describes some possible reasons why a vehicle may have trouble starting on a cold morning. Please take a look…

Possible explanation #1- Battery drain

This is probably the most obvious explanation as to why your vehicle may be taking longer to start on a cold morning. Cold weather can slow down the chemical reactions that take place within the battery. According to an article published by AAA Automotive Research Center, "At 32°F, a car's battery loses about 35 percent of its strength. When temperatures plummet to 0°F, it loses about 60 percent of its power." In simple terms, cold weather reduces the charge-holding capacity of a battery.

Solution:

Take suitable safety measures to safeguard your car battery against cold weather. Plus, check the condition of your BMW battery from time to time. If it has reached its max usage limit, replace it.

Possible explanation #2- Lube thickening

As the temperature drops, the lube used in your car will thicken. Engine oil, transmission oil, differential fluid, and other types of lube that your car relies on for various purposes will thicken as the environmental temperature drops. At the same time, the antifreeze flowing through the cooling system will also contract and become denser when the ambient temperature drops below a certain threshold. This can result in all kinds of problems... and, yes, you'll have a hard time starting your car on a cold winter morning.

Solution:

Be careful when choosing the lubricant for your car. Select the lube with the right viscosity grade (as recommended in the owner's manual). Also, change your BMW engine oil, transmission oil, and other types of oil before winter arrives.

Possible explanation #3- Water in the fuel line

Modern cars are equipped with features that essentially prevent water from entering the fuel delivery system. If somehow moisture enters the fuel delivery system and freezes up inside the fuel line, a blockage will form. This can prevent fuel from reaching the cylinder. And, guess what? If there isn't enough fuel getting into the combustion chamber of the engine, no matter what you do, you won't be able to start your car.

Solution:

You can prevent condensation inside the fuel tank by simply keeping the fuel tank full. You can also install a desiccant.

Possible explanation #4- Faulty starter

Another major reason why you may have difficulty starting your car on a cold winter morning is a faulty starter motor. After all, it is the starter motor that cranks the engine so that it starts working on its own. A defective starter motor won’t be able to turn the engine over. As a result, no matter how hard you try, the engine will not come to life. So, if you’re having trouble breathing life into your car engine on a cold winter morning, check the starter.

Solution:

The starter motor of a car can malfunction due to one of many different reasons; ranging from an electric short circuit to a defective solenoid. Find out and fix the issue before things take a turn for the worse.

To Put It Simply…

So, these are some of the common reasons why a vehicle may struggle to start on a cold winter morning. If your BMW is slow to start on a chilly morning, follow the above-said instructions to get the issue fixed.